Search - The Fractals :: Heavy Rotation

Guess what happens when a quartet of three martini lunches staggers toward a ragged copy of Respect For Acting, stumbling over bell-bottoms into plasticine porters, hissing like 8-Tracks, knocking over emo kids with Flying Vees...The Fractals, that is what happens, and they have been happening for ten years. Tearing it up mercilessly in a cyclonic maelstrom of Steely-cum-Stevie-cum-Angus, with outer rings of Zeppelin and Trane, the whirling dervish that is The Fractals is not to be ignored. Kevin Hanson, lead singer and songwriter, has performed and recorded with the likes of Usher, Jay-Z, The Roots, Musiq Soulchild, and countless others. He appears in the acclaimed films Fade To Black as a band member for Jay-Z's Farewell concert and Dave Chappelle's Block Party as a member of the house band. His distinctive songwriting is what has drawn so many to both Huffamoose and his current band. His compositions and masterful guitar playing are the spinal cord of The Fractals. Jim Stager, bassist, has performed and recorded with hundreds of artists, ranging from Rosemary Clooney (!) to the legendary punk band X. His mastery of rock and jazz merge in a style that has earned him a place in the pantheon of Philadelphia's notable session greats. Whether guiding his upright through the downhill slalom of modern jazz, or firing off downstrokes with a Fender extra-heavy pick, Jim is bass, hear him roar. Erik Johnson, drummer, has performed and recorded with countless artists in myriad styles, from playing avant-garde jazz with Ben Schachter, George Garzone and Tim Hagans to backing singer-songwriters such as Susan Werner, Mutlu and Lelia Broussard. Often described as a beast of a drummer, his soaring background vocals hover over the band in an unlikely juxtaposition of melody and maelstrom. Mike Frank, the newest member of The Fractals, is well known as a true musical savant who never sacrifices musicality for virtuosity, although he has technique and musical mastery in spades. He has been performing with master singer and songwriter Jim Boggia for over twenty years (at times along with the other Fractals, long before joining the band) and has more recently recorded and performed with The Disco Biscuits. Mike s gift for spontaneous orchestration gives even his most adventurous solos a sense of cohesiveness amidst chaos. Whether playing their own music, backing other artists or composing for films they scored and performed music for the cult classic Aqua Teen Hunger Force as well as Abel Ferrara s RX Mas, the band is in a constant state of musical hyperactivity. The Fractals have recently completed their first full-length offering, Heavy Rotation and are currently performing in the Philly area in support of their new release. Spinning intertwined webs of storytelling and improvisation, the band s one-mindedness leaves audiences stunned and invigorated. In the words of legendary music critic Tom Moon, Do not be deceived by the swerving and ever-pleasant melodies of The Fractals: This is sly, sophisticated music that wants to tear your head off. This is also a quartet that breathes and moves as a shape-shifting, four-headed creature from a planet where music is life and sound is truth.